Washington, DC - then OKW

[Tigger7570]

Hi Everyone:
We're thinking of going to Washington DC for a few days and then on to OKW this spring. Right now we're planning to drive to DC and then on to OKW. I was looking for suggestions about a good safe place to stay for a couple of nights. Any advice would be great. Thanks

 

[KelNottAt]

DH, the kids, and I had a nice "getaway" weekend at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel during the summer of 2003. At the time I could have sworn it was a Loews, but I don't see the affiliation anymore.

Anyway, it was a nice hotel, close to the Smithsonian, some monuments, and National Mall. I felt relatively safe there.

Have fun,

 

[sk8belle]

L'Enfant is kind of on the edge of the city. After 5 p.m., it can get rather deserted. I would suggest staying either closer to the center of the city, like Metro Center area, or in one of the suburbs (Crystal City, Alexandria, Arlington) at a hotel right on a Metro line. I recently got an email with some deals for DC hotels. I'll see if I can dig it up and send it to you. In the meantime, I live and work in the DC area, so if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

 

[msmayor]

The last time my family stayed down in the DC area, we ended up at the Embassy Suites in Old Town-Alexandria, Virginia. Easy to find, and literally right across the street from the King Street Metro Station for easy access in and out of DC. Loved the fact that the rooms were suites, and the complimentary breakfast/manager receptions are always nice.

As I remember, there was a nice steakhouse restaurant right near the hotel as well.

Good luck!

 

[sk8belle]

It looks like www.hotels.com and www.travelzoo.com both have deals on DC hotels posted.

 

[Tigger7570]

Hi Everyone:
Thanks for the replies. Since I'm not familiar with Washington. msmayor you mention the Metro Station. It sounds like we should leave our car wherever we are staying and take the Metro? Is that correct? How long ago were you in Washington?
sk8belle, I was wondering if there is a hotel that you could suggest that you feel is safe and that you would recommend to your family? I may also be asking you at a later day for other suggestions. I'm just at the beginning stages of planning this for DH and I.
Again, thank you so much for the replies.

 

[pbharris4]

I live about an hour south of DC, but we go up there often and DH used to work up that way. I don't know your budget or tastes, but in DC there are several really nice places one of them being a Mandarin Oriental which is on DVC's Concierge List, JW Marriot, The Mayflower, etc. When we go up there we stay in Arlington/Pentagon City at the Doubletree which is near the Metro and we have also stayed at The Ritz Carlton (they were having a great special going on!) and that's attached to Pentagon City Mall and we got free breakfast too, which was awesome! You can also walk directly into the mall from The Ritz and I believe the Metro runs right under it. There are several nice, safe hotels right in that area within walking distance to the Metro. IMO, I'd recommend staying at one of those and use the Metro.

Parking and Traffic are nightmares and I will never ride another cab there (or any other city). When using the Metro, pay attention to closing times. One time I parked at Arlington National Cemetary and didn't know they closed at 9pm, but the Metro closed at 9:30 or 10pm back then. My car got locked in the cemetary and we had to call the Park Police to get us out! Luckily, the officer grew up close to the town I grew up so he was nice to us.

A really nice dinner (or they do lunch or brunch cruises) is the Odyssey in DC. It's a dinner cruise with REALLY, REALLY good food and you get to see DC and Georgetown from the water (unless it's choppy, then you see DC and Alexandria, VA) check out the website. I don't know it off hand, but do a search for Odyssey dinner cruises. If your DH is into any Civil War stuff Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania area has many battlefields and tours of Historical Downtown Houses, etc. HTH

 

[sk8belle]

Here's a selection for you, organized by location (prices from hotels.com). All of them would be ones I'd recommend to family:

Crystal City:
Hyatt Regency Crystal City ($79)

Arlington:
Best Western Key Bridge ($84)
Marriott Key Bridge ($129)
Sheraton National ($89) - a friend of mine has stayed here several times and likes it.
Hyatt Arlington ($99) - right above the Ballston Metro

DC:
One Washington Circle ($95) - this is right across a traffic circle from Geo. Washington University and the Foggy Bottom Metro stop.
Courtyard Washington, DC Northwest ($99)
Club Quarters ($99) - this is right up the street from the White House and about a half-block, if that, from a Metro stop.
Courtyard by Marriott DC Convention Center ($119)

The Embassy Suites msmayor mentions is in a nice area as well.

 

[katallo]

Another suggestion for Alexandria is the Sheraton Suites.

 

[rtobe]

In Crystal City (which is actually Arlington or Regan National Airport when you look) check out the Marriott hotels - if memory serves, they have indoor pools which could be fun to relax in. The Hyatt in Arlington is nice but geared to business. It is a great location for getting into town though. There is an Embassy Suites in Rosslyn. There is a Hilton Garden Inn in Clarendon (both Rosslyn and Clarendon are neighborhoods in Arlington). The Hilton Garden Inn is walking distance (about a block to Courthouse Metro stop on the Orange line). It is also close to restaurants and a movie theatre.

There is hotel near the National Zoo - Marriott Wardman Park which is nice.

Driving and parking near the National Mall is not a good idea since there basically is no parking and traffic is a pain. One thought is to pay to park at Arlington National Cemetary and pick up the Tourmobile - a little pricey but you get on and off all day and it goes to all the major museums and you can just stay on and ride.

If you want a tour of Congress, you might write to your representative and let them know you would be interested -- sometimes they can arrange something more than usual tourist thing. If you want to see the White House, be sure to check out their website for how to do that.

 

[Tigger7570]

Thank you for all the great suggestions. It definitely appears that we should park our car whereever we decide to stay and use public transportation. Our next step is to decide whether we will drive down in a rental car and fly home or to fly into Washington, rent a car there and then do the return at Orlando and fly home.
Again, thank you for all the suggestions so far.

 

[pplasky]

The last time my family stayed down in the DC area, we ended up at the Embassy Suites in Old Town-Alexandria, Virginia. Easy to find, and literally right across the street from the King Street Metro Station for easy access in and out of DC. Loved the fact that the rooms were suites, and the complimentary breakfast/manager receptions are always nice.

As I remember, there was a nice steakhouse restaurant right near the hotel as well.

Good luck!

We go to DC once every 1-2 years and stay here everytime. It's great if you have kids. Can have a nice big breakfast and relax with a couple of drinks after sightseeing all day. FWIW, we always stay at Embassy when travelling for the same reasons listed here and there are several in the DC area, depending on what you want to spend.